By Oguadimma Chisom Jacinta
Following the indefinite nationwide strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), which began on Monday, October 28, 2024, public university operations across the country have been effectively shut down.
The strike, triggered by four months of withheld salaries since the 2022 strike, has left students and staff in challenging conditions.
In a joint statement, SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi expressed their disappointment over the government’s failure to address the unpaid salary issues.
They directed members in public universities and inter-university centers to “hold joint congresses on Monday, October 28, 2024, and commence a comprehensive strike,” urging that no concessions should be made.
According to data from the National Universities Commission (NUC), approximately 2.1 million students in public universities will be impacted by the strike.
Reacting to this, a final-year Mass Communication student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Miss Chidera, shared her frustrations about the impact of the strike.
“I stay in one of the school hostels, and we’re currently facing water shortages. For the past two days, I haven’t had water to bathe or cook, and the people on strike are responsible for these services,” Chidera said.
She urged the union and the federal government to take immediate action so that they can resume their duties.
“This is not funny at all. Classes were scheduled today, but when we arrived at the lecture hall, it was locked. We were told that the workers responsible are on strike, so we had to hold our lecture outdoors,” she added. “As much as students are indirectly affected, these staff are vital to the school’s operations. I hope the government pays them so they can return to work,” another student echoed.
Also, a hall governor from a female hostel, who requested anonymity, voiced her concerns: “All the hostel occupants are pressuring me because of the water shortage. The personnel responsible for these services are not available, making it difficult to access water.”
Similarly, Miss Chineye, a student from the Department of Computer Robotics, expressed her dissatisfaction as well: “The school health center is closed due to the strike. I’ve been very sick and need medical attention,” she lamented.
